Part 18 (2/2)
”Doctor, the Araelians' Protector Force is here.”
He got up slowly. ”Well, ladies this is it. If there is anything else wrong with you medically, the Araelians will contact a human doctor if necessary. Good luck.”
”Thank you.” I looked at Di, who smiled at me weakly. ”Are you ready for this?”
”I guess I'll have to be,” she got up slowly from the chair and I rushed to her side.
I led her out to the lobby where six large men awaited us. All were in black leather and had long dread-locks. While I couldn't see their features, because each were hidden behind a veil-like mask, I could see their eyes and skin. Both looked to be different 159 Violet Visions shades of purple. I nudged Di a little and motioned with my head toward them.
”They're definitely Araelians,” I murmured to her.
”Are the women-mates ill?” inquired one with a deep voice.
”We've been told that the illness will subside when we get planet side,” I stated as calmly as I could.
”Ah...the umbai...I totally understand.” The guard nearest us shook his head in agreement.
”The umbai?” I questioned.
Though I couldn't see his mouth, I saw the smile crinkle his eyes. ”All will be made known when you get planet-side.”
”I see,” I answered and s.h.i.+fted Di's arm to fit more comfortably around my shoulder.
”Let me take her.”
One of the guards came over and swiftly picked her up in his arms. I could tell that she was not much of a burden to this man.
Wow, finally a real man, I thought to myself and quickly pushed it away when one of the Protectors addressed me.
”Would you like me to carry you?”
I put up my hands. ”No, no...I'm quite alright so far.”
”I'll take your word for it. Should you stumble once, I will be carrying you.”
”Alright.” I just couldn't believe the fact these were the people of the planet. I had so many questions.
”We'll follow you to your home and then go to the other young woman's.”
”We're roommates, so we just have to make one stop.” I turned and quickly negotiated my way to our apartment about five blocks away. People parted the way the moment they saw the Protectors. It made me wonder what they knew that I didn't.
Thank goodness none of our neighbors were there to see us, as most of them had gone off to work for the night.
160.
eXtasy's Collective Mind As I put my hand on the door to put in the key, one of the Protectors put his hand on mine. ”Let me. I want to make sure everything is safe.”
I was taken aback. ”Why wouldn't it be?”
”There are those on Ja.n.u.s who don't want us to take mates from the human women.” Turning the key, he pushed the door open, and another went inside to scope out our place. It was small and he was back in no time.
”It's clear,” he stated. ”Gather your things quickly. We need to be gone as soon as possible.”
”I need to call our boss,” I quickly stated.
”It's been taken care of. All we need you to do is to get your things so we can leave.”
”Okay. Diana, you'll need to tell me what you want to bring.
Think about it and I'll get my stuff first.” Rus.h.i.+ng into my room, I pulled the biggest bag from my closet. I hadn't brought much and most of it would fit into this bag. I pulled clothes from the closet and reminded myself to tell them that the costumes had to go back to the club. Opening the drawers of my desk, I just emptied them into the bag. There was no need to be neat as I would be unpacking shortly. Dragging the heavy thing to the living room, I turned to Diana. ”What do you want to take?”
”Just my clothes from the drawers, everything in the closet belongs to the club. And the contents of my desk will be fine.”
”Sure. Suitcase in the closet?” She gave me an affirmative nod and I turned to one of the Protectors. ”I need someone to contact the club and let them know that there are costumes in the closet that need returning.”
”We'll contact the club and have someone stay until they arrive. We'll also need your keys so they can be returned to the guild.”
”No problem. Let me just finish with Di's room and we'll be 161 Violet Visions done.” In the five years we had resided here, we had done little to make it a home. There were very few keepsakes anywhere except in our own rooms. I quickly packed her bag intent on questioning her one more time before we left. Once in the living room, I scanned it for any last minute items. There were a few pictures of us over the years that I gathered up.
”Are you sure that's all you want, Di?” I looked over at her in the Protector's arms. Receiving her affirmative nod, I turned and handed my keys to the Protector that seemed to be in charge. ”I think that's it.”
”Good. I've gotten word that there is a contingency of non-guilders that are on the way to try and stop us.”
”Non-guilders?” I questioned. ”I thought that you had to belong to a guild to live on Ja.n.u.s.”
”Overall, that is true, but there are some that are awaiting deportation because they couldn't qualify for the guilds. They see the Araelians as the cause to all their problems. Many are here following the money and not here because they were called.”
I frowned. ”Ja.n.u.s is your moon, certainly you can govern the people who live here?”
He chuckled deeply. The sound sent s.h.i.+vers down my spine and settled into my crotch. I actually wanted to reach out and rip his clothes off his body. What the h.e.l.l was happening to me? I s.h.i.+vered and tried to bring my focus back to the present. ”It doesn't work that way. The moon is actually under the jurisdiction of the Federated Planets. That was our price for reaching out into the universe for our mates.”
”I see.”
He squeezed my hand as he took the key. ”Everything will be explained to you once you are planet side. You do realize that only those who are chosen can go to the planet?”
”I knew it was something like that. You mean that there are 162 eXtasy's Collective Mind no humans at all on the planet?”
”Only those who were invited. We allowed the Federated Planets to have Ja.n.u.s as long as they wouldn't interfere on the surface.”
I went outside, flanked on all sides by Aurealians we began down the pa.s.sage. ”Being a little cautious aren't you?”
”Mates are precious and can never be replaced,” he answered and kept the pace steady.
We would have made it if the crowd hadn't been so thick. We had entered the shuttle docking station and were getting inside the elevator when all h.e.l.l broke loose. Hearing Diana scream, I tripped, and when I tried to crawl backwards under everyone's feet into the elevators, I was clipped by a laser, and went down with a thud, hitting my head. I cried out in pain as it was the most hurtful thing I had ever felt. The Protector who had been my shadow from the moment he picked us up at the doctor's, turned and fired one precision shot that hit my a.s.sailant. Grabbing my good arm, he pulled me inside and knelt next to me.
”It hurts like h.e.l.l,” I managed to get out between clenched teeth. ”How can they be so stupid? We're on a s.p.a.ce station for heaven's sake.” I tried hard to keep the pain from my voice. ”Is Diana alright?” I asked through the pain.
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